The latest arts, culture and other happenings in Vancouver this December, 2023. Have a tip? Email kristi@looselipsmag.com

Krampusmarkt 2023: Explore a wunderkammer of jewellery, leather, chocolate, baked goods, wall art, coffee, perfume, skincare and more, all with a glass of cheer in hand!
Dates: December 1 to 3, 2023
Location: Strange Fellows Brewing (1345 Clark Drive)

Make It! The Handmade Revolution: The popular handmade market will showcase over 250 local brands and makers, with unique items perfect for gifting to loved ones as well as treating yourself.
Dates: December 7 – 10
Location: PNE Forum (2901 East Hastings Street)

Early Music Vancouver (EMV) and the Vancouver Chamber Choir present Handel’s Messiah: Joining forces for the first-time and under the baton of celebrated conductor Alexander Weimann, this holiday treasure will include the Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO) performing on period instruments, 24 local singers, and four internationally acclaimed soloists: soprano Sherezade Panthaki, alto Allyson McHardy, tenor Nicholas Scott, and bass Jonathon Adams – each of whom will perform from memory, thereby enhancing the story-telling side of the famed 18th century oratorio.
Dates: December 8
Location: The Orpheum

Eastside Flea Winter Markets: Eastside Flea’s popular winter markets feature a curated roster of 45 local makers and collectors with vintage clothing, small-batch items, antiques and collectibles, and more to discover. Shop for everyone on your list in the new vintage showroom and then treat yourself to delicious dishes and beverages from the food trucks on site.
Dates: Saturdays and Sundays until December 17
Location: 1101 Union Street, Vancouver

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: The VSO’s Holiday Tradition returns to the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at UBC. Delight in one of the classical canon’s most iconic pieces, led by VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright. The perfect musical event to share with family and friends.
Dates: December 9 + 10
Location: UBC Chan Centre

First Pick Handmade – Third Annual Holiday Pop-Up: First Pick Handmade events are well known for featuring a curated offering of high-quality and handmade fashions for your person and home. This year, over 30 designers are featured with all items made locally, by hand, and do not feature mass production.
Dates: December 9 + 10
Location: Heritage Hall

Weirdos Holiday Market: The seventh Weirdos Holiday Market is a one-stop-shop for everything unusual and delightful for the unique people on your gift list. Shop from dozens of artists personally curated by founder and organizer Rachel Zottenberg, including witchy wares, collectibles, eccentric art, candles, books, and more.
Dates: December 8 – 10, December 15 – 17
Location: The Russian Hall (600 Campbell Avenue)

VSO at the Movies: Home Alone: A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams’ charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, HomeAlone is holiday fun for the entire family!
Dates: December 13 + 14
Location: The Orpheum

Christmas with Chor Leoni: The Christmas concert includes a dynamic blend of holiday classics and hopeful winter harmonies, coupled with the world premiere of A Midnight Clear from Vancouver’s genre-defying composer and violinist Cameron Wilson. The work is composed of three unique sections that move from atmospheric to lively, and are inspired by the original Christmas classic, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Dates: December 15, 16 & 18
Location: St. Andrew’s-Wesley United (1022 Nelson St)

Carousel Theatre’s Snow White: This version of the fairytale classic, hailed as “imaginative and energetic” (Toronto Star), is a wickedly funny reinterpretation that sees two actors whimsically embody the story’s full cast of beloved characters, including the handsome prince, malicious queen, helpful dwarf, and the pure-hearted Snow White herself.
Dates: Until December 31
Location: Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre

Back to the Holidays: From Scrooges to Grinches and Krampuses to Hans Grubers, there’s something inherently funny about holiday cynics who begrudgingly give in to seasonal merriment. Back to the Holidays is an homage to Back to the Future and A Christmas Carol and explores holidays of the past, present, and future through the lens of an eccentric scientist who is tasked with helping our hero discover the true meaning of the holidays and save the town from ruin.
Dates: Thursdays to Saturdays at 7:30 PM from November 23 to December 23, with a 2 PM matinee on December 17 and 24
Location: The Improv Centre

Vancouver Christmas Market: Discover unique treasures to stuff into stockings or tuck under the Christmas tree at one of the more than 90 artisan huts offering handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list. Festive foodies can sample Glühwein (mulled wine), a selection of German and Austrian beers, and a variety of sweet and savoury epicurean delights.
Dates: Until December 24
Location: Jack Poole Plaza

Christmas Day Lunch Buffet With Santa: This Christmas Day feast transcends tradition, with a diverse range of offerings including charcuterie and cheeses, a pasta and risotto station, and a turkey carving station with all the trimmings. From the salad bar to a West Coast raw bar, the journey includes specialties reminiscent of late-night Chinatown eats, plus H2 Smoke House offerings. Satisfy your sweet tooth with Pastry Chef Martha’s Christmas Market Sweets. The Kids Zone promises a delightful selection for younger guests, featuring fresh fruit salad, chicken karaage, creamy mac and cheese, plus festive desserts.
Date: December 25
Location: H2 Kitchen + Bar

H2 Christmas Special: On two of the most glittering nights of the year, relax and indulge in the H2 Kitchen + Bar Christmas Special, a holiday plate that perfects the classic. Smoked Turkey Breast, accented with a 48-hour apple brine, is complemented by confit dark meat and cheddar croquettes. Cornbread stuffing, accompanied by the tangy touch of pickled cranberries, plus whipped red-skin potatoes and market-fresh vegetables, are all drizzled with sage turkey gravy.
Dates: December 24 + 25
Location: H2 Kitchen + Bar

2023 & Me: Whether it was the best, worst, or most middling year of your life, this show will be a therapeutic “thank you” or “**** you” to 2023! Come and share with us what made this year unique, fantastic, or a total bust and watch us recreate your experiences (and perhaps even rewrite history)!
Dates: December 27 – 30
Location: The Improv Centre

Elf! The musical: Join Buddy the Elf on his expedition from the North Pole to New York City, where he’s determined to win over his new family with Christmas cheer, syrupy spaghetti, and heartfelt songs. But what’s an elf to do when his dad’s on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t even believe in the man in red? Audiences of all ages can frolic in this romp that’s part family reunion, part rom-com, and full of heart and humour.
Date: Until December 31
Location: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

Refuge Canada at the Museum of Vancouver: Through images, soundscapes, first person accounts and artifacts, this powerful exhibition begins “no one wants to be a refugee, anyone could become a refugee.” Moving through major waves of arrival from Second World War era up to present day, Refuge Canada does not shy away from opportunities to portray the darker chapters of history. Hopeful stories of optimism and success are balanced by moving accounts of shattered lives, fear, and examples of Canada’s mixed record in welcoming refugees.
Date: Until February 2, 2023
Location: Museum of Vancouver

From Slander’s Brand: The group show brings together three monumental works by Hannah Darabi, Rachel Khedoori, and Ron Terada. In response to transformational historic periods — the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Iraq War of 2003, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic — each artist asks how art acts as witness, interlocutor, and critical reflector on pivotal moments of historical trauma and transformation.
Dates: Until February 4, 2024
Location: The Polygon Gallery